Winker-strap for bridles.



T. J. STEEN.

WINKER STRAP FOR BBIDLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22,1908.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

alt mentor, Them/0m JSfPpn 2/ tn mom 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3, Fig.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE J. STEEN, OF ST. PAUL, NEBRASKA.

WINKEB-STRAP FOR BRIDLES.

Application filed April 22, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ti-rnooonn J. S'rnnn, a. citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Howard and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in VVinker-Straps for Bridles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bridles and more particularly to winker or blind straps provided with metal reinforcing devices at the fork or crotch of the strap and at the points of connection between the branches of the strap and the winkcrs of the bridle.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a winker strap of this character which is of simple and substantial construction, comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and effective in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of reinforcing devices constructed of bendable sheet metal and so designed as to be readily clamped to the winker strap and winker, the said devices being suitable for attachment to bridles already in use as menders or adapted for use by harness makers in manufacturing bridles.

With these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bridle showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view of the crotch portion of the blind-holding straps or stays showing the reinforcing device applied. Fig.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the reinforcing device before applied to the bridle. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of a reinforcing device for attaching the strap to a.

Specification of Letters Patent.

winker, the device being shown attached and unattached, respectively.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a bridle of ordinary construction which is provided with blinds 1 with which is connected a stay strap 2 that is attached to the headstall 3 in the usual manner. The strap 2 has Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Serial No. 428,544.

its lower end split longitudinally into a crotch formed of members a that have their free ends riveted or otherwise suitably serured to the upper corners of the blinds or wiukers. In order to prevent the members from tearing, a reinforcing device B is employed, the same consisting of a sheet metal that comprises a front body portion 5, a back-plate (3 that is connected by a horizontal roll or bend T with the body portion. The body portion is tapered upwardly and bowed forwardly so as to present a rounded front surface. The upper extremity of the body portion has two rearwardly-exteuding prongs, pins or the like preferably integrally connected with the body portion and adapted to be inserted through the strap 2 and clenched at the back. The strap 2, after being split longitudinally at its lower end, has the members t bent laterally and the device B is presented thereto so that the crotch will [it in the curved part 7 and the prongs 8 are inserted in slots 9 in the unsplit portion of the strap 2. These prongs 8 are bent outwardly flat against the rear side of the strap 2, as shown by dotted lines at 10. The back plate 6 is then bent upwardly behind the strap 2, and thereby compressing the curved part 7 to a considerable degree and thus clamping the parts together. Besides serving as a reinforce, the device serves as an ornament and gives a pleasing appearance to the strap. As the branches t of the winker strap are liable to easily break at the points of connection with the winker, as bridles are usually made, it is preferable to provide metal reinforcing devices C at these points. Each device is constructed from a piece of bendable sheet metal and before being applied to the bridle, is in the form shown in Fig. 6, which represents a stamping made by suitable dies. The said device consists of a fiat base portion 11 from which rises a central tubular stem or socket 12 open longitudinally at its rear, as indicated at 13, and projecting rearwardly from the top of the plate portion 11 and at opposite sides of the stem 12 are lugs lt. As shown in Fig. 5, the branch t of the winker strap is secured to the winker 1 by the stitching 15 which binds the two parts of the winker together in the usual manner, and the device C is applied to the bridle by placing the open stem 12 over the branch 4 and the plate portion 11 against the outside of the winker, the lugs 14 being engaged over the top edge of the winker, as shown. hen in this position, the stem 12 is closed by bending the metal tightly around the portion at of the winker strap, while the extremities of the lugs 14 are bent downwardly against the inner face of the winker. A rivet 16 or other fastening is then inserted through an opening 17 in the plate portion 11 and through the leather of the winker so as to securely fasten the reinforcing device in position. The tubular stem 12 is tightly clamped around the branch 4 of the winkcr strap so that strain on the stitching 15 will be reduced to a minimum.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the illvention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims.

i 1 f i i Having thus described the invention,'what I claim is 1. The combination of a blind stay or strap split longitudinally at its lower end to form a crotch, with a reinforcing device for the crotch consisting of a sheet metal piece having front and rear portions integrally connected and compressed toward each other, and prongs formed on one of the portions and piercing the strap for forming additional securing means.

The combination of a blind stay for bridles having its lower end slit longitudinally and provided with slots above the inner end of the slit, with a metal structure consisting of a body disposed over the front of the strap, prongs on the body passing through the slots and clenched to the strap, and a back plate secured to the body and bent behind the strap for spreading the members formed by the slit in the strap.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE J. STEEN. lVitnesses W. S. PAUL, C. E. TAYLOR. 

